豹纹守宫的寄生虫有哪些？症状和治疗（生肉 未翻译）

Parasites are, unfortunately, a fairly common health issue encountered by novice and expert leopard gecko owners alike. 

But how do you identify them, and how should you treat your gecko once you’ve identified a parasite infestation? 

This list will guide you through every major type of internal and external parasite your gecko is at risk of contracting and what to do to rid your beloved pet of them.

Interestingly, pinworms are a highly common intestinal parasite many species of geckos and other reptiles in the wild live with their entire lives with no noticeable issues.

However, it is crucial to note wild geckos also aren’t expected to live nearly as long as those in captivity, and there isn’t nearly as much reliable data on wild versus captive geckos infected with pinworms.

Still, most parasitic infections of pinworms in wild reptiles and amphibians are mild and don’t harm the animal in any major way unless they are ill, stressed, very young, or very old. 

In many cases, the pinworms will have a mutualistic relationship with the animal and, strangely, will assist it with digesting food and sort of “cleaning” the intestinal tract in exchange for small amounts of their food intake from time to time.

Captive reptiles have more issues dealing with pinworm infections as their bodies are more sensitive to the infection and less capable of fighting it off. 

Additionally, pinworm infestations in captive geckos tend to climb to unmanageable numbers, in turn overwhelming the lizard’s body with the many worms who have been reproducing unchecked within their intestinal tract.

Pinworms are particularly common in leopard geckos, bearded dragons, and many species of tortoises and have the potential to become fatal for individuals in captivity if left untreated. 

Even a healthy gecko will quickly become weak due to loss of Appetite and constant diarrhea caused by the parasites.

Thankfully, pinworm infestations usually start out in low numbers and present symptoms slowly over several weeks or months. 

This gives diligent and observant leopard gecko owners enough time to identify the parasitic infection and get their pet to a qualified reptile veterinarian to be treated and cleared of the infestation.

Pinworms are very thin, short worms only around 1/2″ inches in length. 

Their color is usually either white or off-white, making them look like tiny strings or threads when they are passed in a gecko’s stools.

In many cases, the female pinworms will emerge while the animal is asleep to lay eggs around their anus, resulting in the gecko licking or scratching at its vent to ease the discomfort and pain from the pinworms hatching and moving on and inside of their bodies.

To spot and officially identify a pinworm infestation, you’ll need to take a close look at your gecko’s feces for the tiny threadlike worms. 

Though they aren’t microscopic by any means, pinworms are very small, so it’s best to get a good look under a light with a magnifying glass.

Additionally, you’ll probably be at least somewhat aware of the infestation before you ever actually spot a single worm, as the gecko will slowly present a range of unpleasant and worrying symptoms over time as the number of pinworms within their intestines become unmanageable. 

An infected gecko with pinworms will display the following symptoms:

Unusually lethargic behavior, i.e. sleeping more often than normal or moving much slower than usual

Loss of Appetite, poor Appetite, or even outright refusal to eat or drink at all over time

Dehydration, resulting from not drinking enough water due to the infestation

Frequent runny stools/diarrhea

Significant loss of tail fatand other important fat stores on the body, such as in the belly and limbs

Keeping eyes closed constantly

Presence of pinworms in feces

There are other reasons your leopard gecko won’t eat crickets you may want to check out.

Among captive leopard geckos, the most common cause of pinworm infestations is poor animal husbandry and unsanitary living conditions.

It is essential to thoroughly clean your gecko’s tank often and remove any feces from the enclosure as quickly as possible to prevent the spread of bacteria and accidental ingestion of pinworm eggs.

Remember, leopard geckos (and most reptiles in general) use their tongues to interact with their environment, which makes them uniquely susceptible to contracting parasites when their mouth comes in contact with fecal matter or other bacteria.

Bacteria can cause leopard gecko mouth rot as well and if you’d like to learn more on mouth rot check out our other post.

If you suspect your gecko has become infected with pinworms, you should schedule a vet Appointment as soon as possible to get an official diagnosis and treatment plan.

Typically, most reptile vets will first recommend collecting and testing a stool sample for the presence of pinworms and pinworm eggs. 

Once they have confirmed the gecko is infected, they will prescribe a deworming medication.

Additionally, if the gecko has lost a significant amount of weight, veterinarians will often suggest additional fluids, a high-calorie diet with plenty of fat and protein, and a regular vitamin supplement to help the gecko regain their weight and Appetite lost as a result of the infection.

In many cases, it is common for veterinarians to suggest multiple rounds of the dewormer to fully rid the gecko’s intestines of the worms. 

Pinworms reproduce quickly and in large amounts, so it is often tricky to completely eradicate them once they have thoroughly infected an animal.

The primary means of preventing pinworm infestations is to simply keep your gecko’s enclosure as clean as possible. 

Clean the enclosure thoroughly with a vinegar solution or cleaner designed specifically for reptile enclosures at least once a week, and spot clean any feces from the enclosure daily.

Also, get in the habit of keeping track of your gecko’s bowel movements. 

Though it isn’t very pleasant to look at, getting an idea of what is regular and normal for your gecko and noting any instances of runny stools or pinworm sightings will help you more quickly diagnose any infections and reinfections.

Another fairly common internal parasite in leopard geckos is coccidia, a single-celled organism which lives within the infected animal’s intestines and feeds off of anything they eat. 

This, similar to pinworm infections mentioned above, will cause the animal to lose weight quickly and become lethargic and prone to runny stools and dehydration.

The insidious thing about coccidia, however, is it is single-celled and thus microscopic, meaning you won’t be able to clearly identify it from examining your gecko’s stools alone. 

Instead, you’ll have to monitor their behavior for symptoms associated with coccidia infections and have a veterinarian conduct tests on a fecal sample to confirm the presence of the parasite.

Like pinworms, coccidia is actually very common in wild geckos, though captive geckos seem to not be able to fight off infections as easily and are more prone to more severe infestations and symptoms. 

If left untreated, coccidia will become fatal.

Geckos infected with coccidia will display the following symptoms: